Dr. Verne C. Lanier Jr.

DURHAM | Dr. Verne C. Lanier Jr., 73, passed away peacefully Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013.A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Feb. 9 at Westminster Presbyterian Church followed by a reception in the fellowship hall. He was born in Welcome to Dr. Verne C. Lanier Sr. and Lela Hedrick Lanier, who preceded him in death.He is survived by his wife and love of his life for 49 years, Dean McClellan Lanier; three daughters, Cecile (Pride) Scanlan of Nashville Tenn., Melissa (Mark) Turner of Chandler, Ariz., and Renee (Andy) McKown of Atlanta Ga.; six grandchildren, Nicholas P. Scanlan, Abigail L. Scanlan, Erin L. Turner, Wyatt L. Turner, Louise S. McKown and Jay K. McKown; and his sister, Sarah (Don) Warnecke of Dallas Texas.Dr. Lanier graduated cum laude from Catawba College in 1962. He earned his medical degree from Vanderbilt University in 1966, where he also completed his general surgery residency. Lanier served on active duty for two years in the Navy with the General Surgery Staff at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. (1971-73), and as lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve. He completed his residency in plastic surgery at Duke University Medical Center in 1976 in addition to fellowships in pediatric surgery (Mercy Children's Hospital, Kansas City, Mo.,) and hand surgery (Kleinert Hand Service, University of Louisville). Lanier practiced plastic surgery for 37 years. He was dedicated to his profession and turned a dream into reality when he built an office near Durham Regional Hospital that included two operating rooms and a recovery area. He treasured the time he spent there caring for patients with both skill and compassion. In addition, he was associate consulting professor of plastic surgery at Duke University Medical Center (1978-2005), clinical assistant professor of plastic surgery at UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine (1995-2005) and chief of plastic surgery for Durham Regional Hospital (1978-2005). He wrote extensively for both general and plastic surgery professional journals and had a total of 43 scientific articles published. In 1984, he implemented a new tissue expansion technique that dramatically improved the outcome of skin graft surgeries. Lanier served as foreign exchange plastic surgeon in Kostroma, Russia (1985) and Toyama, Japan (1996). As a member of World Medical Missions, he served as the first plastic surgeon at Mbingo Baptist Hospital in Mbingo Cameroon Africa (2008).Professional recognitions include the Southeastern Surgical Congress Gold Medal Resident recipient (1976) and the Plastic Surgery Residents' Conference First Place Recipient Award (1976). Lanier was a member of several professional societies: Vanderbilt Surgical Society, American Medical Association, Southern Medical Association (chairman of plastic surgery specialties, 1987-88), Southern Society of Plastic Surgeons, North Carolina Medical Society (chairman, nominating committee 1995-96), North Carolina Society of Plastic, Maxillofacial and Reconstructive Surgeons (president, 1985-86), Durham Orange County Medical Society, American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ethics committee 1982-88), American Association of Plastic Surgeons, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, Southeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons (chairman, ethics committee 1994-97), International Society of Cosmetic Laser Surgeons, H. William Scott Surgical Society, Canby Robinson Society, American Association for Hand Surgery, American College of Surgeons and the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities.Lanier was an active member of Westminster Presbyterian Church serving as deacon, elder and chairman of the stewardship committee. He taught Sunday school and enjoyed membership in the Men's Bible Study. A memorable experience was serving as chaperone and physician for a high school mission trip to Merida, Mexico, where they built a church. He was actively involved in the community as a member of the Downtown Rotary (president 1999-2000, and recipient of the Paul Harris Rotary International), Durham Chamber of Commerce, St. Joseph's Historic Foundation (2009-10), chairman of the Duke Children's Classic Running Festival (1986-87) and the board of trustees for the Durham Symphony and North Carolina Jazz Repertoire Orchestra. He served on the Board of Alumni and Board of Visitors at Catawba College and was awarded the Catawba College Outstanding Alumnus Award in 2009. Lanier had a passion for music and art. He played trumpet and piano in several bands and was awarded Plastic Surgery Portrait Artist of the Year (2002) by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. His painting, Portrait of Wife, was featured on the cover of its official publication. An article in the Durham Herald (2003) titled "Man of Many Pallets" described his talents in music, art and surgery. He also enjoyed participating in OLLI (Duke Continuing Education) studying Christian Jewish Dialogue and Memoir Writing.An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting, fishing and hiking, particularly his trips on the Appalachian Trail. During his lifetime, he completed several marathons, triathlons and bike races and spent many pleasurable hours playing tennis and golf with his friends. Lanier loved to travel with his wife and spend time with his family. His joyful spirit, strength of character and generous and kind heart will be missed. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his honor to Westminster Presbyterian Church, 3639 Old Chapel Hill Road, Durham, NC 27707 or The Rotary Foundation, 14280 Collections Center Drive, Chicago, IL 60693.The Lanier family is under the care of Howerton & Bryan Funeral Home. Online condolences may be submitted at www.howertonbryan.com, select obituaries.

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